Ag groups cheer as appeals court puts hold on WOTUS regs. Ag Minute for Oct. 14, 2015

A panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati put the regulations on hold nationwide until the court decides whether it has jurisdiction to consider lawsuits against them. Click here for full story.

USDA proposes more scrutiny for biotech wheat field trials. Ag Minute October 6, 2015

The USDA is considering requiring permits for growing biotech wheat, which is more rigorous than the current system of notifying the agency of field trials. Click here for full story.

Idaho moisture outlook better in south than north. Ag Minute for October 1, 2015

An Idaho hydrology expert says conditions are favoring another dry winter in Northern Idaho but the possibility of good moisture in Southern Idaho. Click here for full story.

Willamette Egg Farms purchased by Midwest Ag giant. Ag Minute for Sept. 29, 2015

The Oregon business has been a leader in adopting cage-free egg production techniques. Click here for full story.

Farm-level organic sales approach $5.5 billion in 2014. Ag Minute for Sept. 28, 2015

The 2014 survey of organic farms in the U.S. shows the top 10 states for organic sales -- including California, Washington and Oregon -- account for 78 percent of sales nationwide. Click here for full story.
http://www.capitalpress.com/Organic/20150923/farm-level-organic-sales-approach-55-billion-in-2014

As wildfires rage in West, ranchers lose cattle, rangeland. Ag Min Sept 18, 2015

The vast majority of the 1.6 million acres — nearly 2,600 square miles — that burned in Oregon, Idaho and Washington this year are federally owned, data show, with large swaths of that public land used as rangeland for livestock grazing. Click here for full story.

Investment firm plans to spend $300 million on farmland. Ag minute for Aug. 21, 2015

A new REIT is looking to buy up $300 million of farm properties in the Northwest and the South. Click here for full story.

Idaho, Oregon ranchers fighting one of nation’s largest wildfires. Ag Weekly for Aug 18, 2015

A large fire in Southwestern Idaho has destroyed tens of thousands of acres of grazing land and is threatening ranches and cows. Click here for full story.

Hop output to increase despite drought. Ag Min For July 31, 2015

While some hop varieties suffer from heat and drought in Washington's Yakima Valley, the industry anticipates a larger crop because of increased acreage. Click here for full story.

U.S. potato acreage up 1.9 percent, NASS reports. Ag minute for July 01, 2015

Fall potato acres are up in the Northwest and nationwide, according to new numbers from the USDA and United Potato Growers of America. Click here for full story.http://www.capitalpress.com/Nation_World/Nation/20150630/us-potato-acreage-up-nass-reports

PNW hop acreage up 16 percent. AgMinute for Jun 16, 2015

Hop growers have increased acreage an estimated 16 percent this season in a continuing quest to meet demand of the growing small, craft brewery market. Click here for full story.

Washington’s wolf experience unlike rest of the West - Ag Minute for June 5, 2015

Environmentalists hail the return of gray wolves, but ranchers say the apex predators — and the state's high goals — threaten their way of life. Click here for full story.

Early crop gives NW cherry growers high hopes-Ag Minute May 22, 2015

Pacific Northwest cherry growers are just starting to harvest a lighter crop with more defects but are delighted by the prospect of record June volume and good prices. Click here for the full story.

Reps say wolf management should be turned over to states - AgMinute for May 6, 2015

A bill introduced by Oregon, Washington and Utah congressional representatives would turn wolf management over to their states. Click here for the full story

Western hay growers face challenges - AgMinute for April 8, 2015

Western hay growers see challenges ahead for this year's crop. Early spring and water concerns in some areas are making the season hard to predict. Click here for the full story

OSU scouting program confirms onion thrips - AgMinute for March 20, 2015

An Oregon State University scouting program has confirmed onion thrips — tiny, winged insects that spread iris yellow spot virus in onion fields — are reproducing in Western Idaho and Malheur County, Ore., nearly a month early. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com

Bird flu strikes third California poultry farm - AgMinute for March 19, 2015

Bird flu has struck a third commercial poultry farm in Central California, according to a report posted Wednesday by the World Organization for Animal Health. Click here for the full story

Firefighting plan aims to protect Western habitat - AgMinute for March 11, 2015

The intent is to protect greater sage grouse habitat while contending with fires that have been especially destructive in the Great Basin region of Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and California. Click here for the full story

Deadly bird flu strain confirmed in Missouri, Minnesota - AgMinute for March 10, 2015

The virus is the same highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza that’s been confirmed in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Minnesota. Click here for the full story

Loss of ocean carrier ‘devastating blow’ to ag exporters - AgMinute for February 12, 2015

Experts say some Oregon ag exporters won't be able to afford the cost of shipping products to ports in Washington or California if the Port of Portland loses its largest container shipper. Click here for the full story